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In the season opener last Friday in Providence, Dominik Uher came out firing.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward ripped six shots on net, and the lofty shot total was by design.
“This year I’m going to try to shoot as much as I can,” Uher said. “The recipe to score goals is to shoot, and perhaps sometimes instead of looking to pass I’d be better off shooting and at the very least creating a chance for a rebound if it doesn’t go in.”
Uher, 22, is in his fourth season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and, along with captain Tom Kostopoulos, is the longest-tenured active player on the squad.
Now that he has a bit of experience under his belt, Uher’s focus has shifted a bit. He said he won’t stray from his fundamentals — physical play and a strong two-way game — but he’s looking forward to adding a bit more offense.
“Every year you try to bring something new into your game. This year the focus is going to be on my offensive side and being more productive in that area,” Uher said. “But I won’t neglect my fundamentals, the grinding hockey, strong forechecking and being good defensively.”
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said he looks forward to helping his players not only define and play to their strengths, but evolve in other parts of the game as well.
He said Uher is a strong skater and penalty killer with a penchant for the forecheck and forcing turnovers, but it doesn’t end there.
“That may be Dominik’s core, but we want all our players to grow and work on other aspects of their game so they can become more well-rounded players,” Sullivan said. “That’s the next evolution for Dominik.”
Uher has already been doing just that. He spent the summer working on his skating and said he already feels faster on the ice. And as one of the few players to be with the team for four seasons, Uher is ready to add another aspect to his game: leadership.
“I know this area and I know the organization here, so I’m more than happy to help out new players and younger guys,” Uher said. “Just overall, on the ice I know they’ll expect more from me, which is why I’m trying to shoot as much as a can, be a leader and be a good, two-way forward.”
NOTES
• Goaltender Matt Murray’s 40 saves in Providence marked his first 40-save performance since April 11 at Portland in a 5-2 victory. Murray has made 40-plus saves three times in his AHL career, but only once without the aid of an overtime period.
Though his record is .500 after week one, Murray’s save percentage is .941 through two games, identical to his final save percentage the year before. Murray is the AHL’s reigning Rookie of the Year and Goalie of the Year.
• The Penguins’ win at Providence not only gave Sullivan his first win with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but also his first regulation/overtime win as a head coach since Mar. 25, 2006m when his Boston Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-4.
• The Penguins’ penalty kill has yet to be beaten this season, successfully killing off all eight of its opponents’ power-play opportunities.